New York transit authority to invest $1.1B for 500 electric buses

The agency currently has a request for proposals out for an order of 45 standard electric buses that will be used in each borough starting April 2021.

By Cailin Crowe • Dec. 17, 2019

Investigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition

Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

California approves new energy efficiency frameworks expected to boost emerging technologies

The decision will help early-stage efficiency solutions gain traction in a state that has been a leader on clean energy for years.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2019

The rise of cloud computing is having an impact on data center efficiency — and it's not great

In recent years, improvements to data center facility efficiency have flattened — or even slowed — as fewer computers do the actual work.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2019

House green bank bill aims to leverage $35B in government funding into $1T in private investment

The effort had bipartisan, bicameral support in 2018, and the reintroduction is meant to prepare the bill for passage in early 2021.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 16, 2019

FERC: Wholesale demand response grows in step with smart meter proliferation

Demand response participation in wholesale markets hit 29,674 MW in 2018, largely tied to the growth of smart meters, which now make up over half the electric meters in the U.S.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2019

Republicans and Democrats are divided on many energy issues, but with farmers, it's a bipartisan affair

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this week it will invest $237 million in rural efficiency and renewable energy projects for 640 businesses to help reduce the burden of energy expenses.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2019

Philly mayor signs laws to boost big building efficiency, phase out dirty fuel

Mayor Jim Kenney also updated the city's Energy Benchmarking Program, designed to understand energy use and "opportunities for change," according to a senior program manager.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 12, 2019

Outsourcing utility climate goals: Energy as a service reduces risk while increasing energy savings

A full set of service solutions with financing options will increasingly be required to address the portfolio needs of C&I customers, with energy storage, smart building analytics and controls as key enabling technologies, the author writes.

By Brett Feldman • Dec. 11, 2019

Southwest Power Pool registers Voltus as first demand response services provider

"We're eager to see how Voltus' technology and services will unlock not only the value of various types of demand response, but all types of distributed energy resources in the SPP footprint," the grid operator's COO said.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2019

Utilities can profit from a DER-heavy future by transitioning from traditional business models: report

New industry research highlights a path to expanding the business models for distribution utilities as more rooftop solar and energy storage is added behind the meter.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 11, 2019

Road to 100: How four cities are leading the renewables revolution

Utility Dive visited four U.S. cities powered by 100% renewables, getting local insights on the political will and economic drivers that got them there.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 10, 2019

Buttigieg's McKinsey controversy draws attention to candidate's work on energy efficiency

All of the leading Democratic candidates for president have discussed efficiency improvements, but Mayor Pete Buttigieg had his name on a major study a decade ago.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 10, 2019

Project of the Year: Soleil Lofts solar+storage development

The virtual power plant outside of Salt Lake City underscores the role of utility involvement in emerging grid products.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2019

The Utility Dive Awards for 2019

The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.

Dec. 9, 2019

What I wish I'd said to California's chief air regulator about clean transportation

Will flexible demand-side resources ever be able to participate in power markets in the same way as supply-side resources? That’s the question before Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols — and all of us, the author writes.

By David Farnsworth • Dec. 5, 2019

After 2 court losses, DOE signals it will publish 4 appliance efficiency standards

Environmental advocates project the standards will generate more than $8 billion in energy savings and avoid nearly 100 million tons of carbon emissions over the next 30 years.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 4, 2019

Los Angeles wants to reach 30% EVs on roads by 2028 Olympics

Local government and private partners released the Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0 to accelerate the use of electric vehicles and clean transit.

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 3, 2019

DHL brings electric delivery vehicle pilot to US

DHL's StreetScooter expansion plans follow Amazon's announcement that it placed an order for 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 3, 2019

Electric trucks may be the future, but waste and recycling market still charging up

Looking to move away from diesel and meet climate goals, a growing number of service providers are in the process of testing out models from coast to coast. 

By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Nov. 21, 2019

Efficiency to meet peak demand? New study considers potential beyond energy savings

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new metric to quantify the utility costs of using energy efficiency to reduce peak demand.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2019

House clean energy tax bill sees broad industry support, but Senate path uncertain

The draft legislative package, introduced Nov. 19, adds energy storage and offshore wind, while extending solar and electric vehicle tax credits.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2019

RMI: World is 'badly off track' on Paris climate goals, needs heightened focus on energy efficiency

Rocky Mountain Institute has a new report that identifies seven critical areas of the energy sector where strong intervention could help limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2019

Meeting Paris climate goals will require EV innovation: MIT report

Transportation has overtaken electricity as the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but the Trump administration is set to roll back nationwide fuel economy standards.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 19, 2019

California defies Trump Administration on lightbulb efficiency standards

New state regulations are expected to ultimately save Californians $736 million to $2.4 billion annually, and lower electricity use 2,290 to 4,600 GWh in the first year.

By Matthew Bandyk • Nov. 15, 2019